"This is not about votes or numbers. It is about ensuring a voice at that table," he said.

He stressed that this Maori voice still had much to teach.

"We thought we were being understood but for some, it appears the penny has not yet dropped. I don’t see the Treaty of Waitangi reflected anywhere in this decision."

Dr Sharples made it clear that the call for supercity representation was for all Maori.

However the declaration of intent released after the hui went further.

"Our concern extends past ourselves. We are concerned for all who believe they will not have solid, meaningful representation on this council body that appears to be more about business than people," they said.

"We built this city," he said. "Our people gifted this land, fed the new settlers, gave them the choice of the best land, and we did this in the understanding – or so we thought – of this being a partnership. We are this land’s history, we want to remain a part of its future."

He says that funerals aside, the last time a hui of this size and significance was held must have been before the establishment of Auckland city.

"That the results of the Royal Commission were delivered and then disregarded sounds like Aotearoa/New Zealand of the past," the declaration says.

"While we are disheartened that does not mean we will be inactive. We are mightily determined to ensure this supercity proposal does not go through into law in its current form."